Ethics? Liability?

[control_noob]

Let me start by saying I'm no prude and certainly not a Rat... Here's the issue: If I know a fellow tech is using illicit drugs during the work day am I liable if something happens due to his condition? Do I have a responsability to my employer to report this? I'm the senior tech in our shop and have to work with all the techs, I'd rather not work around someone who may be using, both from a safety and liability standpoint but can't pick and choose my assignments. If I make it known, he will know it was me... I've asked him point blank and he acknowleged he was high. As the senior tech I feel culpable if something happens or the bosses find out on their own, I can just hear him saying "Control Noob knew about it and let it go". Help me out, what should I do?

[coolwhip]

If it were my employee I would fire him on the spot. If I were the coworker I dont think I would say anything to the boss. The best thing to do is to tell your coworker that you dont want to know about it and to do it on his own time and never to do it around you. This will make you happy and he will still have a job. If he does lousy work and you always have to go on his call backs, then I might tell the boss.

[troyorr]

How can you even ask what to do? Tell the boss and have the individual fired immediately. If you take the attitude of letting it go, how will you feel when another technician gets killed because of the dopers inattention? You, my friend, are guilty if something happens. Coolwhip, piss on worrying about him still having a job.

[oil lp man]

This is really strange. If he has get high at work he needs some serious help.
I have had times where I had near misses with accidents over the years because I or someone else was distracted.
And I know for a fact that if I was high on drugs I would have been seriously injured or dead.
Not only is it dangerous to be driving in this day and age but the work place has its own seperate and very deadly accidents just waiting for you.
Someone needs to grab this guy by the scruff of the neck and shake some sense into him.

[texas t]

Do the right thing. Rat or not. HE IS A DANGER TO ALL. Would mention to management random drug testing.
LOL T

[coolwhip]

Do what you must. I thought that maybe you could kill two birds with one stone by letting the individual know you wont put up with it and also not becoming a snitch. Nobody trusts a snitch either no matter what the issue. If he is sticking a needle in his veinand doing crap like that then yes. But if he smokes reefer once and a while I think thats somewhat different and he should not loose his job over it. After all, several presidents have done this as well.

[rabram]

Even if you did not consider that his actions could kill or maim others, keep in mind that if he is riding with you to a job,you get pulled over & he ditches the drugs in your truck -- who loses their job now ? You do.

He has to be cut loose & quickly.No excuse for being high on a job.

[Senior Tech]

Simple...very simple...he get's fired, you and your co-workers stay safe, not to mention the homeowner who could get blown to smitherenes.

[infwsdm]

It's kinda tough to be a rat.

A situation I was in, lets see, 15 years ago now was a situation where I was working for a window company delivering windows. I was the new guy.

One day I was the driver of the truck and the driver was responsible for the load. There were always 2 people delivering. Well my passinger and I were loading the truck and he tried to load some doorwalls and windows on the truck that were not on the list.

He tried to tell me not to say anything and let him load them. I told him that those 'items' were not coming on this truck and if you try to put them on my truck I will beat your ass right here right now(hey I was younger then;))

So one day this same person was the driver and I was the helper and he loaded stuff that wasn't supposed to be there. I told him what an ******* he was and that I was not touching or having anything to do with this ****. And I told him how f-ing stupid he was and that he was going to get caught and if they (management) ask me I'm not going to lie and tell them everything I know.

Well it all came to a head when management were looking for stock they thought they had that wasn't there.

They didn't say anything to anyone, but I knew something was up when they were in the warehouse 'looking' discretely for stuff.

Well tools also started missing and I fronted off the guy in front of the wharehouse manager "if you would bring back that air gun you stole, we could get this stuff our the door on time"

They finally caught him. and everyone else that worked in the warehouse. There was one kid I told not to get involved in it, but he did anyway.

They 'funny' part of the whole thing was is that they thought I was the 'mastermind' behind it all.

From the owner: "we thought you were the only one smart enough to do this"

I replied: " I was the only one smart enough not to"

Three of them went to prison, and the kid went to the county jail. Some of the people that recieved the goods got in trouble too. I don't know what happend to them though.

In your situation I would tell him not to do it around you and if he does 'you wont be working with me' and be firm about it. you don't have to threaten to beat his ass like I would though;)

[The Penguin]

What a horrible situation he has put you in. If he messes up could you be held as an acessory after the fact cause you didn't report it? wow what if some one is hurt or killed because of his drug use?.

If it was me I think i'd tell him he has to get help for his addiction to drugs asap and if he didn't then I'd have to tell him I couldn't live with the possibility of some one being hurt/killed because of his drug usage and or being high at work so I would be compelled to tell the company about it as its company policy. I'd tell him the next time I saw him high at work Id have to imform the boss

Possible you could anomonisly leave a note or mail a note from a concerned un named customer
I dont know this is trouble thats for sure

[rubberduck]

There are perfectly funtioning drug users out there everyday. Chances are you know somone, or work with them and would never be able to tell in a million years. They always do a good job, and never screw up. If he is one of these just leave it alone. However, if he screws up, and costs the company time it is a problem. If he was indiscreet enough to let on to you that he was high I kinda have a problem. Discretion is the better park of something. It's your call.

[slimwoodie]

if he already has a drug habit ... he's got some other bad habits too ... like probably theft from the company, or customers ....don't feel the least bit bad about sendin' him off the job ...

[Diceman]

This stuff is hard enough do do when you are straight.
Anyway, all the businessmen who have a few drinks at lunch need to be canned as well....huh??????
Personally, what fun is getting high or drunk at work? Wait till ya get home anyway.

[Diceman]

I would talk to the guy first. Then decide what to do.

[control_noob]

Thanks everybody for the advice... By now he knows I didn't rat on him right away... I'll let him know there is no room for that stuff at work and to keep his act together or "something bad" will happen. The drug in question was pot, I have an issue because our newest helper was with him and both were lit... I outgrew smoking weed many years ago and don't think he has any business with it on the job or in a company vehicle. This is the first company I've worked for without a formal drug testing policy, maybe it is time to suggest it.

[SeattlePioneer]

Twenty years ago I was a helper working with various fitters for a gas utility. The fitter was the boss and I did what I was told.


One day I was called into a meeting with my supervisor and his boss, and they cross examined me about buying drugs on the job. One of the fitters I worked withe had me drive him over to his girl friends in the morning once in a while at the beginning of the day, or so he told me.

It turns out he was buying drugs, and the neighbors complained to the company when a large truck with the company logo on it showed up at the local drug retailer repeatedly.

I suppose they figured out I wasn't involved in this, but I was under suspicion for a while. The fitter was fired, as was another helper who apparently participated in the drug buying as well.



Seattle Pioneer

[operator]

Originally posted by coolwhip
But if he smokes reefer once and a while I think thats somewhat different and he should not loose his job over it. After all, several presidents have done this as well.

But dont mmost companies have a policy of no drinking on the job?

[Diceman]

I don't think any company has the right to tell you what to do after work as long as you perform. If you do it on the job, well that is entirely different or if it adversly affects your performance. Drug testing is unconstitutional.
We at Pennwood will never do that........

[R12rules]

Originally posted by senior tech
Simple...very simple...he get's fired, you and your co-workers stay safe, not to mention the homeowner who could get blown to smitherenes.

Amen!!!

Being a liberal about this is NOT an acceptable stance to take!!!

Your taking the role upon yourself as the victim here. (maybe you've been watching too much Opra lately)

THIS MAN IS WRONG!!! HE IS THE CRIMINAL!!!

Do your duty and get rid of him. How else will you ever be able to become a leader, if you insist upon following what losers tell you?

He wants to keep his job. Yet he's doing nothing about his issues.

He wants to be accepted by other people. Yet he is doing everything iin his power to alienate himself from people who care about him and trust him.

He wants to be of value. Yet he takes drugs and goes to work where he may bring about much harm.


The man is unstable in his ways. He is a liar. He is not a safe person to be around.


Presently, you are condoning his actions. This makes you his accomplis.


call "we-tip" ... it's annonomys

[frozensolid]

Tell the guy flat out. That you don’t care what he does at home, but drugs don’t belong on the job.

Then tell him if you suspect he is under the influence on the job, you will refuse to work with him. You might not make a friend, but he’ll either quit doing it, or hide it better.

[bootlen]

Le'me see. You're the senior tech. The guy was high on the job...on the clock. Are you in a supervisory position? Do you have any responsibility as senior tech to the employer as to the actions of the employees "under" you?

Would you want to work around, refrigerant, gas, oxyceteline, sharp-edged metal, or objects heavy to the lift with someone stoned? Would you want to be held responsible for their shoddy work done by someone else? Do you like going behind them covering up their mistakes?

If the answer to all the questions in the first paragraph is "no" and the answer to all the questions in the second paragraph is "yes", you might as well light one up yourself.

[Linden Swanson]

And here's my 2 cents:

Since he now knows you didn't rat him out, you have become an enabler. Substance abusers must have enablers in order to continue.

I sympathize with your situation as I have been in the same position. Lots of good advice posted but I think you need to ask yourself a question:

What if this individual, while driving home high, gets into a wreck and hurts somebody. Maybe worse. Is that something you could take in stride? The fact that you started this thread makes me believe you couldn't. In the end, how comfortable will you be if something happens?

[mattm]

Originally posted by Diceman
I don't think any company has the right to tell you what to do after work as long as you perform. If you do it on the job, well that is entirely different or if it adversly affects your performance. Drug testing is unconstitutional.
We at Pennwood will never do that........

That's why you're my Hero. If while I'm down in the sticks with my family and burnt one and then get tested the next week even though I may only smoke once or twice a year that aint right.

Until an employer spends the bucks to do an up to the minute drug test I think it's wrong.

I've been in your boots to though to "control noob" when I was younger with a multi service company. I was lead guy and they sent the mechanical tech with me to do a 10 ton compressor replacement and he burnt one on the way. He was the best help I've ever had so I blew it off, but in the end he and another guy was doing a bathroom tile job and it looked crazy. They did a drug test and he, the electrician and the carpenter was canned. I've not always been the best influence but you need to make your own choice here, but if the dumb ass ever causes somebody harm will you be ok with that. I don't know if I would have been.

[Diceman]

I been doing this a long damn time I could never figger out why in the world anyone wants to be high or drink beer or whatever during work. What fun is that??? This stuff is hard enough to manage while you are straight. I worked in many bars and restaurants over the years and seen the guys getting their morning buzz and their 3 martini lunches.
I don't get it. Is life that bad for them?
Anyone who does either during work is dangerous to himself, his fellow workers and the customer.

[drcustom]

Originally posted by rubberduck
There are perfectly funtioning drug users out there everyday. Chances are you know somone, or work with them and would never be able to tell in a million years. They always do a good job, and never screw up. If he is one of these just leave it alone. However, if he screws up, and costs the company time it is a problem. If he was indiscreet enough to let on to you that he was high I kinda have a problem. Discretion is the better park of something. It's your call.

What kind of drugs does he do? If he's snorting lines on top of an air handler, or otherwise using hard drugs, you need to tell the owner before he starts stealing from co-workers, homeowners, etc. If he's smoking a joint at home after work, tell him you're not comfortable working around him, high-voltage electricity and heavy equipment at the same time. Tell him there is no quarter on this issue. If this gets his panties in a bunch, go over his head. Also, there are plenty of "walking wounded" plodding around on perfectly legal, perscription drugs who might pose more of a danger. Point is, there are varying degress of drug use and your reaction should be adjusted accordingly so you don't put someone out of a job hastily.

[Senior Tech]

Save a marijuana plant...get high on life...